Doom Upon All The World

Chapter 28: The Freeing Of Minds (Part 1)

      Maeve walked around the trees within the walls of Skyhold, taking in the beauty of the gorgeous place as the sun rose high in the sky. Her ax was heavy on her back as she took far strides, her long Elven legs carrying her more efficiently. She wasn't going in any particular direction, just wandering as she showed the youngest newcomer around the compound. Torrance was a handsome baby boy. He reminded her of an infant Anthony. He had been so mesmerizing as a babe. None of them could keep their eyes off of him. Torrance had that same allure to him. He was dark haired but rather than having the black hair Anthony did, his was a light brown, giving his skin a pale look. He was also the first of his family to have no shade of brown eyes. 

     If the Rutherford's for were known for anything appearance wise it was their dominant honey and amber colored eyes. Cullen had them, Branson as well, and Anthony, Chandler, and Bellamy. There was a distinct set of traits that labelled them as family without having to guess. One simply knew. But this darling boy's eyes were not brown or honey or gold in the slightest. His wide irises were pigmented entirely with a fascinatingly light blue and the deep set of gray. It was evident the boy receive many of his traits from his father but a bit of the Rutherford in him shone through. That strong chin being the most prominent of all. 

       She cradled the babe in her arms, stepping lightly, singing the old Dalish song the Keeper sang to all the children at bed time, the song she often sang to her own children when restlessness would grip them. Something about the words in the order they were with the notes that they partnered made a person sleepy and contented. She tried to lull him as she sang and rocked as she strolled through the gardens. He squirmed and squealed in her grasp still, unwilling to find peace in her embrace. He could sense the absence of his mother, the woman that birthed him, that loved him more than anything in this world. She was gone.

     Maeve's heart hurt for Cullen. Watching him walk to the war room with his brother as Leliana stalked behind them and Cassandra led his niece ad nephews down the hall was torment to her soul. She may have been the one to be hurt first but her friends were suffering more than she was now and Maeve could hardly stand to watch. She'd taken Torrance from Chandler's arms to allow her to find a place in the barracks. They managed to fit another bed on the opposite side of the door on the same wall as Nicolynn and Mythalus, then a second squeezed in between the two pairs of beds on the other wall. The room was slowly becoming more and more crowded. When Camille and Olive got big enough, they were going to have to relocate all of the girls in their own room. 

     Maeve wondered how long they would be staying here. A few months? A year? A decade? She doubted they'd be able to stay bottled up for that long. Torrance screeched as she adjusted his position. "Oh, Da'len. You're alright. There's no need to cry, Love. We're going to take care of you. You're safe now." She cooed as she leaned against the strength of one of the mighty trees in the garden. He seemed to calm only slightly for a moment as she held him tighter. Maeve had forgotten the struggle of taking care of an infant. It was no easy feat, nor would taking care of so many of them at once be. 

     Cassandra was expecting, Tavvy was only three months, Torrance was six months, Camille and Olive were less than a week, and who knew how close Fenris and Hawke were in succeeding in their efforts. No one had said anything to them but the pair was being incredibly obvious. Maeve was glad when she heard the rustling of footsteps behind her. It contented her further upon realizing it was Solas that had sought her out. "Enjoying some free time with one of the many fresh off spring in the compound?" He asked as he stood at her side, kissing her cold, wind bitten cheek softly. "You shouldn't be out here in the cold, Vhenan. Either of you could get sick." Solas stated with a wise tone. She nodded as they both gazed down at the little boy. "Torrance," He said thoughtfully as Maeve passed him into Solas' arms.